Mattis first speech post-SecDef tenure made waves on Iran, but I find this line interesting: "People who can see a way to get up in the morning & take care of their families, are less likely to go towards radicalism."

Quote offers insight into Mattis' thinking, & shows that unfortunately, he subscribes to the Obama-Bush model of "Countering Violent Extremism," a botched counter terrorism effort based on shoddy research that led to unnecessary nation building & multi-billion dollar boondoggles.

Moreover, this way of thinking led to massive US-backed infrastructure & nation building projects in Afgh, Iraq, & elsewhere. We flushed billions of $$$ down the toilet thinking that Econ empowerment could fix the radicalism problem. It didn't work. And it continues to this day.

El Baghdadi claimed he had definitive evidence that Trump worked with Saudi Arabia to hack Jeff Bezos, which turned out to be a proven hoax. Now he claims that the CIA told him the Saudis are after him. Believe him?

Related threads

1) As #Iran’s lobby in the West, along with mainstream media (#FakeNews), run the argument of the U.S. provoking recent tensions in the Middle East, let us look at the latest offensive measures carried out by Tehran’s regime & their proxies.

(Chronology)

2) May 11

#Iran-made ballistic & cruise missiles moved on small boats by the #IRGC in the Gulf

THREAD1) As US-Iran tensions escalate, #Iran apologists/lobbyists, such as @tparsi, are rushing to Tehran’s support with a variety of talking points.
One ridiculous example is claiming Iran has no ties with Yemen’s Houthis.

Trita, honestly, you’re making a fool out of yourself.

2) Let’s take a look:

“Reuters has details — from Yemeni, Western and Iranian sources — of Iranian military and financial support to the Houthis before and after their takeover of Sanaa on Sept. 21.”reuters.com/article/us-yem…

3) “A senior Iranian official said Major General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Qods Force - the external arm of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps - met top IRGC officials in Tehran last month to look at ways to ‘empower’ the Houthis.”reuters.com/article/us-yem…

1) Let’s talk about another case of blind hatred towards U.S. President Donald Trump resulting in even American senators looking more like #Iran regime apologists/lobbyists parroting talking points provided by Tehran.

2)@JZarif claims #Iran’s regime urges “ceasefire” in Yemen. On the ground, it’s a different story.
“Shaabani told Fars that Iran not only supported Yemen’s Houthis with weaponry but gave them directives to attack two Saudi Arabian oil tankers on July 25.”jpost.com/Middle-East/Re…

#Iran transformed its #Yemen embassy in into a military base, the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.
Iran’s interference is the source of instability in the Arab world’s poorest nation.thenational.ae/world/mena/ira…